Assam Expands Beef Ban to Hotels, Restaurants, and Public Places: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Tough Stance

Assam Expands Beef Ban: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced an extension of beef bans in the state to hotels, restaurants, and public places. The decision, revealed on Wednesday, expanded what once was a restriction on sale next to temples into a general, statewide ban on its consumption and serving.

Speaking at a press conference, Sarma said the ban now will be strictly enforced throughout the state: “Beef will not be served in any hotel or restaurant, nor at any public function or public place.” It aims to prohibit the consumption of beef within community and public spaces, including the serving of it in any form within eating places or in public congregations.

The chief minister told the press that the erstwhile ban was against the beef being sold near temples and this order is much more integrated in that it encompasses the entire state. “From today, we have completely decided to stop the consumption of beef in hotels, restaurants, and public places,” Sarma added.

The declaration has triggered responses from political circles across the board. Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika took a dig at the opposition, challenging the Assam Congress to either support the ban or “go and settle in Pakistan.” The controversy has also extended to the political battle in Samaguri, a constituency where the Congress faced a significant defeat in a recent by-election. Sarma countered claims that the BJP had won on the back of beef distribution, asking if the Congress used the meat to swing votes.

This expansion of the beef ban aligns with the Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021, which prohibits the slaughter of cattle and the sale of beef in areas with a majority Hindu, Jain, or Sikh population. The law also applies to regions within a five-kilometer radius of temples and satras, the traditional Vaishnavite monasteries.

The move to extend the ban comes at a time when the BJP seeks to solidify its support base in the state, particularly among Hindu voters, while challenging the opposition Congress over its loss of key constituencies.

As the debate continues to unfold, the beef ban remains a central issue in Assam’s political landscape, with strong opinions on both sides of the spectrum.